Vegan Chili Cheese Fries
on Jun 04, 2020, Updated Jul 18, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links.
These vegan chili cheese fries are topped with healthy bean chili and easy queso cheese sauce. They’re highly addictive, totally delicious and always a hit!
Recipe Features
- vegan and gluten-free – great for those with dietary restrictions
- versatile – use the cheese sauce for a dip and sauce for chips, steamed veggies and more
- kid-friendly – kids love this fun, messy meal!
Ingredients Notes
Here are a few notes about the ingredients needed:
- nutritional yeast – creates the cheesy flavour of the sauce, I can’t recommend a substitute for this recipe
- tomato sauce – straight up, plain tomato or pasta sauce from a jar or can
- cashews – create the creamy base of the sauce, look for “raw” cashews with no added oil or salt
- beans – try kidney, pinto or black beans, or a variety, a 14 oz or 19 can works (1.5-2 cups)
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1. Bake the Fries
Here are some tips for the best oil-free baked fries:
- Go with a fairly high temp – I suggest 425 F.
- Don’t cut them too thin. About a 1/2 inch cut is perfect for a puffy and crispy on the outside, tender on the inside fry.
- Use salt, pepper, and any spices you want.
- Lay them in a single layer and don’t overcrowd the pan. This is key to crispiness!
- Bake for 25 minutes. Flip, bake for 20 minutes. Done!
Step 2. Make the Chili
The chili for this recipe is super simple – add everything to a pan and simmer for 10-15 minutes to heat through and thicken. That’s it!
Step 3. Make the Queso
The queso can be made by blending everything in a high-speed blender.
NOTE: If you don’t have a high-speed blender, soak the cashews 8 hours up to overnight before using in the recipe. You can skip this if you want but the queso will grainy rather than smooth and creamy.
Once you’ve made the fries, chili and queso, layer everything on a plate and dig in!
Tips, Substitutes and FAQs
- for alternative chili recipes try my easy vegan chili, 3-bean chili or sweet potato black bean chili
- the chili and cheese sauce also works well over nacho chips, baked potatoes or sweet potato
- the cheese sauce is great on top of steamed broccoli or for dipping tortilla chips in
How long does the cheese sauce keep for?
The cheese sauce keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days. It will thicken up a bit and can be thinned with a bit of water if needed. The chili can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days as well.
Do I have to soak the cashews?
If you have a high-speed blender, such as a Vitamix or Blentec, you do not need to soak the cashews. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, I suggest soaking the cashews for 8 hours up to overnight or boiling them for 10 minutes then draining before using in the recipe.
Related Recipes
- Vegan Lentil Tostadas
- Healthy Mashed Potatoes
- Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wraps
- Buffalo Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Vegan Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vegan Chili Cheese Fries
Ingredients
For the Queso Cheese Sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast, 21 g
- 2 heaping tbsp tomato sauce, 40 g
- 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 3/4 tsp turmeric
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
For the Chili
- 1 19 oz. can mixed beans
- 1 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 a jalapeno, seeds removed and minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 1 large grated carrot, grated (approx. 1/2 heaping cup),
- 1 tsp each sea salt and black pepper
For the Fries
- potato of choice such as golden or russet, approx. 1 medium or 1/2 a large potato per person
- sea salt and pepper
- optional: paprika and chili powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Slice the potatoes into approximately 1/2 inch wedge fries and toss with a sprinkle of sea salt and pepper. Add a pinch of paprika and chili powder, if desired. Line the fries on a baking tray (use parchment paper, a silicone mat or non-stick cooking spray), allowing some room between each fry. Bake for 25 minutes, flip and bake 15-20 minutes more until browned and crispy.
- Add all queso ingredients to a high-speed blender and mix until smooth and creamy.
- To make the chili add all the ingredients to a medium-sized pot and little simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring every so often until it’s well-mixed and the carrot is tender.
- Once the fries are ready, load them onto a plate. Top with chili and cheese sauce and dig in!
Notes
Nutrition
UPDATE NOTE: This recipe was originally published on June 18, 2018. It was updated with new photos and text on June 4, 2020.
This recipe is great! I have also used the cheese recipe over and over to pair with other recipes.
I actually brought it to a non vegan dinner party last weekend. It was a hit!
We were all pouring the cheese over our veggies.
A few people were using it on their meat!
It’s also very simple to make. I double the recipe and freeze half so I have it for our sons when they visit.
Enjoy!
That’s awesome! So glad to hear it.
Loved it! 🙂
How long is the cheese sauce good for ☺️
You can keep it in the fridge up to 5 days. It will thicken up a bit but you can adjust the consistency with a little water or broth if needed.
When you say tomato sauce, do you refer to just tomatoes?
I used a jarred, store-bought plain tomato pasta sauce. Any lightly-flavoured sauce such as marinated, roasted garlic or roasted red pepper would be fine, or canned plain tomato sauce say for pizza. 🙂
Please can you tell me what type of tomato sauce you used? I really want to make this!
Just any plain tomato pasta sauce works! I use a local oragnic brand, can’t remember the name off the top of my head but any jarred tomato pasta sauce works great.
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to try these!
Can’t wait to try that queso cheese sauce!!
Yes, it’s so good! Even better the next day 🙂 Hope you like it!